I don't suffer from any allergies or food sensitivities. I'm fortunate that I can pretty much eat and drink whatever I want and not get a negative reaction. And, I'm also very thankful that nobody in my household has them either. This means we can really explore a wide variety of food at home (or when we go out) and only deal with the usual suspects:
"It looks weird. It smells awful. I've never tried it. I don't like it." You get the idea...
So, why am sharing this? Where's the story? What's in it for me, you ask? Well... I usually get inspired by something I encounter or ponder on and today I was inspired to write about how I've started to really listen to what my body is saying and feeling based on what I eat and drink.
And, since I don't have any food restrictions, I can freely experiment with whatever I want. As you know there are many ways of evaluating how food makes you feel physically and emotionally. For purposes of this post, I chose NOT to write about the effects of gluten, dairy, soy, corn, peanuts, hydrogenated oils or added sugars. Why? Because in order to do this correctly, one needs to follow a proper elimination diet and since I have no need for doing it (right now), today's focus is on what I believe is easier to track: Drinks, like caffeine and alcohol.
Caffeine — To get us going
Many people do not get enough sleep and depend on "high octane" foods, like coffee and sugar, to keep them GOING all day. So, when you take them away, people feel the effects immediately, and it is usually not a good scene. For me, it is mainly the caffeine and not the sugar since I like my coffee black and I usually don't crave sugary snacks in the afternoon. (Ok ... I said usually).
As an experiment, I decided to drop caffeine cold turkey for 3-days straight. I felt like an addict going through massive withdrawals. I had a 3-day headache that just pounded my head to the core. Thankfully I decided to do this (stupid) experiment when my family was away on vacation, so I was a hermit for 72 hours and nobody had to deal with my wrath. I can't lie, I love espresso ... so it is hard to give it up. The smell, the ritual, the pure enjoyment. Ahhhh!
Sorry, got a craving and had to go brew one! From a physiological standpoint, for most of us, caffeine becomes the fuel to counterattack the lack of sleep. We need caffeine to turn us ON.
Lesson Learned: I choose not to give up espresso. I love the entire process of brewing, of smelling, of the simple joy it brings me. And as much as I want to believe that espresso doesn't have an effect on my body, I know it does. But I choose to ignore it and I guess I'm okay with it. As long as I'm aware, I'm okay.
Alcohol — To wind us down
I grew up around adults having a glass of wine at dinner. In most cultures, it is a way to complement the meal itself. And since I come from a Mexican and Italian background, this was certainly the case at my house. So naturally, when I became an adult ... I did the same. I enjoy coming home from work and popping a cold beer! And then I enjoy having a glass of red wine at dinner. There's something about the meal not being complete otherwise. Now, I'm not talking about drinking a bottle of wine at dinner, just one nice glass. So this is not about comparing a party night with a regular night at home.
So as an experiment, I decided to drop alcohol from my "weekday" diet and evaluate how it made me feel the next morning. To my surprise, when I didn't drink, I woke up feeling much more energetic from the get-go. To clarify, I never felt super slow or groggy, but it did take me a little bit to clear the cobwebs and feel like I was ready to tackle my day. So, as I compare mornings with and without drinking the night before ... clearly, the mornings without drinking are much better.
Isn't it ironic that the world, for the most part, uses alcohol as a way to mark the end of the workday? It's almost like when Fred Flinstone yells "yabadabadoo" at quitting time. Alcohol becomes the way to turn OFF. And when we step back and look at the big picture it is all interconnected and we are all super dependent on this cycle:
> We don't get enough sleep ... so we need caffeine (and sugar) to get us going in the morning and throughout the day.
> We unwind at the end of our workday and get in the "relaxed zone" with a drink or two. We might relax for a bit, but when it comes to sleep the National Sleep Foundation @ sleep.org says that when you booze, you lose.
> We wake up the next morning not having slept well because we went to bed late, the booze interrupted our sleep ... and we're surprised because we don't feel at our best.
> We refuel again with caffeine and sugar to get us going. And what do we do? We do it again and again and again ...
Lesson Learned: For me, I've consciously stopped drinking during the week and I wake up feeling amazing. I can tackle my morning routine better, my senses feel alive and my body feels vibrant. This is something I've chosen to do and it is completely a personal choice. Some of you might think this is crazy and you would never do it. Just like I've decided caffeine is part of my life and I enjoy it. And, don't want to give it up.
Part of my quest for better self-care is to learn to listen to my body better. This little experiment allowed me the opportunity to do so. It's really quite a simple thing to do, but don't underestimate the simplicity of it. It is amazing when you stop and think about how interconnected we are to what we eat and drink.
My challenge to you today is to experiment doing something similar. Drop something from your diet. See how you feel. You don't have to stick with it. Just experience your body, your senses, your mood ... your ALIVENESS!
Commit to thrive and #payyourhealthfirst,
-- Chris
